To: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
From: Executive Office
Meeting Date: June 24, 2025
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Department Contact: |
Darcie Antle |
Phone: |
707-463-4441 |
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Department Contact: |
Kelly Hansen |
Phone: |
707-463-4441 |
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Item Type: Consent Agenda |
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Time Allocated for Item: N/A |
Agenda Title:
title
Ratification of Letter of Opposition for Assembly Bill 1331 (Elhawary) - Workplace Surveillance
End
Recommended Action/Motion:
recommendation
Ratify letter of opposition for Assembly Bill Assembly Bill 1331 (Elhawary) - workplace surveillance.
End
Previous Board/Board Committee Actions:
The Board of Supervisors regularly issues support letters that align with the 2025 Legislative Platform. These letters advocate for adequate and ongoing federal and state funding, timely distribution of resources, increased local authority, and flexibility in administering and providing services.
Summary of Request:
AB 1331 would prohibit employers-including local governments-from using workplace surveillance tools to monitor workers in designated off-duty areas (such as breakrooms, lounges, and cafeterias) or during off-duty hours, including within workers' residences or vehicles. The bill would allow employees to deactivate surveillance devices during off-duty hours and prohibit employers from requiring the use of such devices. Civil penalties of $500 per employee per violation may be assessed, with enforcement available through the Labor Commissioner, civil action, or public prosecutors.
The California Labor Federation and a broad coalition of labor organizations sponsor the bill. It aims to protect worker privacy amid the expansion of advanced surveillance technologies, such as biometric tracking and keystroke logging.
Opponents, including California State Association of Counties (CSAC), Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), Urban Counties of California (UCC), and a broad business coalition argue that AB 1331 is too broad and undermines workplace safety. They claim it categorizes standard workplace tools-such as badge access systems, GPS tracking on vehicles, building security cameras, and collaboration platforms like Teams or Slack-as "surveillance tools," thereby limiting their use in off-duty areas like break rooms and vehicles. This could jeopardize public safety and hinder efforts to prevent or investigate workplace violence. Additionally, they argue that the bill creates confusion regarding compliance for on-call roles and essential safety tools, such as body cameras and emergency alerts and alarms.
Alternative Action/Motion:
Do not ratify letter of opposition and provide alternative direction.
Strategic Plan Priority Designation: An Effective County Government
Supervisorial District: All
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supplemental Information Available Online At: <https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1331>
Fiscal Details:
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source of funding: N/A |
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current f/y cost: N/A |
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budget clarification: N/A |
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annual recurring cost: N/A |
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budgeted in current f/y (if no, please describe): N/A |
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revenue agreement: N/A |
AGREEMENT/RESOLUTION/ORDINANCE APPROVED BY COUNTY COUNSEL: N/A
CEO Liaison: Executive Office
CEO Review: Yes
CEO Comments:
FOR COB USE ONLY
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Executed By: Atlas Pearson, Senior Deputy Clerk |
Final Status: Approved |
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Date: June 24, 2025 |
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